The environment is not a giant toilet

Why is it that so many people think of our environment as one giant toilet? And that allowing water to flow to the sea is a form of flushing? Furthermore, they blame some hapless 3-inch fish for depriving us of our water rights.

The truth is, if rivers stopped flowing because of increasing diversion to other parts of the state, we would be faced with increased seawater incursion, which is already costing millions of dollars in new well-drilling fees at the mouth of the Salinas River.

If we want to survive on this planet, we have to stop listening to news organizations and politicians that promote a cartoonish understanding of our universe.